Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-13
lNrRR-aTATR CeMMERCE.

Nc Ou1cd&O 1FtODHe OF A2fca ON |
contains the following concerning the
Inter State OonDerce Law:
The Inter Stats Commerce Law Roes
into effect April 4. II places all the |
inter Stats carriers Of the country
under government control, pFovidss q |
com mission Of Eve persons for the en-
fercement Of the Law, prohibits dis |
eliminating rates and the chaFRinr of
more for q shorter than fer longer
hsul. prohibits pooling, requires the
posting Of schedules Of rates, prevents
the issuing NJ free passes except to en-
ployes or eficers of the common car
rieFs, and gives persons claiming to be
damaged by tie transportation COM
panies the option Of making complaint
10 the Railway Commission or of
bringing suit on their own behalf in tho
United States Circuit or District Courts.
It's features appear in detail from the
following summary by sections:
Section provides that the act shall
apply to all common carriers engaged
10 the transportation Of passengers or
property, wholly or in part, by railroad
from one State or Territory to another
State or Territory OF the United States.
or from any part OF the United States
to or through an adjacent foreign coun-
try. Reasonable and Just charges for
the transportation OF passengers or
freights are made compulsory.
Section 2 prohibits discriminating
rates under substantially the similar
circumstances and conditions as be-
tween persons"
Section 8 makes IL unlawful TO give
undue or unreasonable preference" 20
any person, firm, corporation or locali-
ty, or any particular description of
traffio as compared With any other per-
500, firm, corporation or locality.
Section il the famous shorter and
longer" hail provision, which declares
that il shall be unlawful for aay con
mon carrier subject TO the provisions Of
this act TO charge or receive any great
or compensation in the aggregate for
the transportation Of passengers, or Of
| like kind Of property, under substan-
italy similar circumstances and condi-
lions, for a shorter than for a longer
distance ever the same line in the same
direction, the shorter Being included
within the longer distance" Bat the
Commission, upoa applications, may. in
special cases, authorize the common
carrier to charge less for longer than
for shorter distances for the transpoTta-
| tim Of passengers or property.
Sec. 3 10 the one which prohibits pool
/ ing. making il unlawful for any com
mon carrier to enter into any contract,
agreement, or combination with any
other common carrier for the pooling
of freiehts of different aad competing
railroads, or for the division of the earn
| inRs OF such railroads, making each day
Of the continuance Of such pooling
separate offeRse.
SEQ. 6 requires common carriers to
print and keep for public inspection
schedules showing ths rates and fares
and charges for the transportation of
passengers and property which any suoh
| common carrier has established. Ter.
minal charges and rules sndlregulations
which in any wise change OF Affect the
aggregate of such charges shall be
plainly stated. Schedules must be
/ plainly printed in largs type and kept
in each railroad station for public in
spection. Ten days public notice of an
| intention to advance rates or fares must
be given before such advance can 20
into Ell set. Reductions may be made
without preVilus pebiio notice, but
| when made must be Immediately posted.
When rates have been established. de
Walton theFefrom shall be unlawful.
Established schedules and all agree
menls with ether common carriers must
be promptly 6ied With toe Railway
Commission created by this act YiO-
latiun OF this section will subject the
offender 10 punishment for csntsmpt.
section declares that 10 shall be IN
lAwfal for any common carrier TO enter
/ into aBy combination to prevent con
tinuous carriage Of freight or passen-
gers, either by breaking buik, or stop
page, or interruption not made IN good
faith fir some necessary purpose.
See. 8. ! h violation Of any provision
Of this act by any common carrier shall
make the said COMMON carrier liable to |
the person or persons injured thereby
| for the full amount Of damages su4 |
tanned in consequ nee Of anY such NO
lAsion of the provisions Of the act.
SectiaH 3 gives 10 the person or par |
sons claiming 10 be damaged by any
common carrier the option either Of |
making complaint to the Railway Con |
mission As hereinafter provided or Of |
bringing suit in his or Der owR behalf |
for the recovery Of damages in any Dis |
trict or CIfcuit Court OF the United |
States OF competent Jurisdiction. Bot |
no person or persoss shall have the |
right 10 pursue both remedies 90 toe |
same time. and must choose one or the |
| other ~ the begin ing Of his action. |
The right TO send for q person or papers |
10 bestowed apon the court before which |
the action may be brought.
See 10. The penalty for violation OF |
this set oy any common carrier, cor |
poration, director or sficeE, receiver or |
trastee Of sny railway company 10 q Zoe |
sf $500 for each odense.
section IL provides for the establish |
Beut Of = Railway Commission Of ave |
Commissioners, 30 be appointed by she |
President and eonhrned BY the senate |
Toe fret Commissioners to be appointed |
are 20 serve for t~o. three, -four, i've and |
six years, respectively, bat their soc
eessors are 10 serve for terms Of six |
years each. The President has tie |
povsr 20 remove Commissioners for |
nAlfeasance 10 efnse. Not more than |
thrss Commits sioners stall be appoint
ed fFo@ the same political party. No
railway OfaeiAl cAR be appointed as q /
member Of the Commission. No Com- /
missioner can eDRsRe IN any other basi-
nsss.
session u sufhog rs the Connission i
10 make full inqairy iato tie manage
mens or basiBess Of all Ksilway con
panies OF other common earrlsFs Sub
Jet 20 the provisions II this Acs, and 30
require the attendance % EitDsssss and 1
the prodaetio1 Of bsoks and papeKs
The coarts Of tie U1ited STATES are re-
quIrsd TO rsInfores the powers Of the
C5mEaissioa. Psrssna. 6Fms. corpora
sioaA. ese-. Gay appiy q she CoDDssslon
By petition. ssAtir9 tie fscts Gpoc which
their griexsscss are ossed. where pen
TIE Comntsssan nav summon tee cOG.
a1on carrier 20 appear before e Ana
satisfy ths so0pissnL II No sach -
pesEAncs shall b. mada, u shall become
the daty OF tbs Commissio1 20 inxest3-
gate SID complaints and provide an sp-